Strikes hit Iranian Kurdish rebels in Iraq: exiled groups

At least 14 drone strikes have hit Iranian Kurdish rebels in Iraq’s Kurdistan region since Monday, an opposition commander said, blaming the attacks on Iran.

During the Middle East war, the autonomous Kurdistan region, which hosts US troops and foreign oil companies as well as the exiled rebels, has been a target for attacks carried out by Tehran and pro-Iran Iraqi armed groups.

Since hostilities resumed in the region, drone attacks have repeatedly been intercepted over Kurdistan’s capital Erbil, and others have struck Iranian Kurdish rebels.

Amjad Panahi from the Komala party told AFP on Tuesday that “Iranian forces have launched 14 drone attacks since Monday… against bases belonging to our party as well as the PDKI and the PAK”.

He added that the strikes caused material damage and fires, but no casualties.

Adib Khaldian from the Kurdistan Freedom Party (PAK) confirmed that drone attacks had targeted his group.

The opposition officials added that the most recent attacks came before dawn.

The Democratic Party of Iranian Kurdistan (PDKI) said on X on Monday that “a broad and sustained campaign… has struck the Kurdistan region dozens of times in recent days”.

Even after a ceasefire was announced in April, Iran continued to strike Kurdish opposition groups, which Tehran accuses of serving both Western and Israeli interests.

But the groups have mostly evacuated their bases and camps in Kurdistan since the war.

On July 17, drone and rocket strikes killed nine Komala members near the city of Sulaimaniyah.

No group has claimed responsibility for the attacks.